Yardley folks steamed over loud, low-flying planes

Friday

Aug 30, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Heavy air traffic over Yardley from Trenton-Mercer Airport has forced borough officials to lobby for federal assistance.

Council President Joe Hunter said during a recent meeting that the council will contact the offices of Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, R-8, U.S. Sens. Robert Casey (D) and Pat Toomey (R) to help lessen the number of aircraft that fly over the borough.

“(Congressman Fitzpatrick) is the one we have to go to for this particular issue because it is between two states. It’s a federal issue,” Hunter said.

In recent months council members have received several complaints from residents about the loud and low-flying aircraft.

“Around March or April there was a perception that the flights coming over the borough and Lower Makefield were increasing,” Councilman Rich Wayne said.

“(Frontier) didn’t do it in November when they began but something changed,” Wayne said.

Michael Boonin, Mercer County deputy director of communications, said the number of flights increased in April after Frontier added two or three daily departures. Those departures included destinations to Atlanta, Chicago-Midway, Columbus, Detroit, and Raleigh/Durham.

Currently, four to five Frontier flights depart the airport depending on the day of the week, Boonin said.

Residents at Tuesday’s meeting said planes routinely fly low to the ground into the early morning hours. The airport’s daily voluntary night time activity curfew is 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., according to according to the state of New Jersey’s website, www.state.nj.us.com.

“They are landing over my house at 1:30 a.m. and there is nothing illegal about it,” said Barry Gaudet of Yardley. “(The curfew) is not enforced. All you can do is call the airport and complain.”

Gaudet said he was also concerned over the environmental effects the aircraft may cause.

“I don’t think there was any kind of environmental impact study towards local residents, let alone population from the jet fuel that is going to be dispersed over this area,” he said. “Most small airports say there is a 6-square-mile radius of population just from the takeoffs and landings.”

Boonin said Trenton-Mercer has not done an environmental impact study in response to Frontier’s start in November because it was not required by the Federal Aviation Administration.

However, in 2002 there was a less intensive environmental assessment that was completed in connection with a planned terminal expansion at the airport, he said. In 2006 the FAA approved the study.

Wayne also suggested the council consider funding Bucks Residents for Responsible Airport Management in future budgets to help monitor the problem. The volunteer, non-profit organization was started by Bucks County residents concerned about past, proposed and foreseeable future expansion of the airport, according to brram.org.

“(BRRAM) has been involved in opposing any forms of expansion or renovation until the issues of noise pollution and safety are resolved.” Wayne said.

Wayne added that air traffic may increase after Trenton-Mercer completes a $4.2 million renovation project beginning Sept. 9 to Nov. 8, which will include runway, parking and terminal improvements. Currently, the airport accompanies approximately 100,000 take-offs and landings each year, according to state.nj.us.

“From what I understand they are just resurfacing (the runway) which will make it easier for them to fly constantly,” Councilmen Robert Benbenek said.

This isn’t the first time the borough has taken issue with flights from Trenton-Mercer.

While serving on a previous council, Hunter said he was part of a group of Yardley, Lower Makefield and state representatives that testified during an impact study when the airport tried to expand in the mid-1990s. The airport failed in its attempt to expand at that time, he said.

“Apparently there was no hearing or anything about (increased air traffic) over there like before when they wanted to expand,” Hunter said. “Back then the planes that (Trenton-Mercer) were flying in were Boeing 726s that were incredibly loud. It’s the same issue,” he said.

Yet, Boonin added that the Airbus A-319 that Frontier operates is much quieter than other models.

“By all accounts, the modern A-319 aircraft (stage 4) is much quieter than the B-737 aircraft (stage 2) that previously operated at Trenton-Mercer during operations by Eastwind Airlines,” he said. “For comparison, a stage 1 aircraft is the loudest; a Stage 4 is the quietest.”

The Airbus A-319 measures 111 feet long with a wingspan of 111 feet 11 inches and clocks in at a maximum speed of 560 mph, according to flyfrontier.com.

Officials said because the issue is between two states the FAA will make the final determination.

“This is the FAA’s call. It’s their purview,” Wayne said.

Anthony DiMattia is a freelance writer. He can be reached through editor Carl LaVO: 215-949-4227 or clavo@calkins.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Bucks County Courier Times ~ 8400 N. Bristol Pk, Levittown, PA 19057 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service